Russia Shows Mobilised Troops Training With BMD-4 Infantry Fighting Vehicle In Ukraine

These images purport to show mobilised Russian troops training to use BMD-4 infantry fighting vehicles at the rear in Ukraine.

The images show the mobilised Russian soldiers receiving instructions before getting into one of the vehicles.

One of the BMD infantry fighting vehicles can then be seen opening fire on mock enemies.

The images were obtained from the Russian Ministry of Defence (MoD) on Wednesday, 8th February, along with a statement claiming: “In the rear area of ​​​​the zone of the special military operation, BMD-4M crews, staffed by mobilised military personnel, are being trained.

“The squad leader from among the instructors with combat experience of the Northern Military District set the task for the crew of the combat vehicle to destroy the mock enemy.

“After occupying regular places inside the combat vehicle, the crew began to work out the training task.

Russian mobilized soldiers fire from BMD-4 amphibious infantry fighting vehicle during a training in Russia in undated footage. The footage was released by the Russian MoD on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2023. (Ministry of Defense of Russia/Newsflash)

“With reaching the line of opening fire, all targets are hit by well-aimed fire at a maximum distance from a 100-mm smoothbore gun, with closer contact, a mock enemy is destroyed from a 30-mm automatic gun and a 7.62-mm PKT machine gun.

“When working out the withdrawal, after completing the firing task, the gunner-operator launched smokes, under the cover of which the driver leaves the firing line at maximum speed, skillfully manoeuvring between obstacles.

“Training takes place every day for several hours in conditions as close as possible to combat.

“Daily exercises at the training ground bring a positive result and soon all the crews will join the regular units of the Airborne Forces, with the further fulfilment of the assigned combat missions.”

We have not been able to independently verify the claims or the footage.

Russian mobilized soldiers fire from BMD-4 amphibious infantry fighting vehicle during a training in Russia in undated footage. The footage was released by the Russian MoD on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2023. (Ministry of Defense of Russia/Newsflash)

Russia invaded Ukraine on 24th February 2022 in what the Kremlin is still calling a “special military operation”. Today marks the 350th day of the war.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between 24th February 2022 and 8th February 2023, Russia had lost about 134,100 personnel, 3,253 tanks, 6,458 armoured combat vehicles, 2,236 artillery units, 461 multiple launch rocket systems, 228 air defence systems, 295 warplanes, 285 helicopters, 1,961 drones, 796 cruise missiles, 18 warships, 5,112 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 211 units of special equipment.

Russia has claimed that its casualties have been much lower but provides infrequent updates on its latest figures.

Ukraine’s military said on Tuesday that the previous 24 hours had been the most deadly in the war so far for Russian soldiers.

Germany, the Netherlands and Denmark have issued a joint statement saying that they will provide Ukraine with at least 100 refurbished Leopard 1 main battle tanks.

The defence ministers of the three countries said in the statement that sending Ukraine the refurbished, older tanks was “to support Ukraine in their endeavour to withstand Russian aggression” and that the war machines would be delivered to Ukraine “within the coming months”.

The Ministry of Defence of Germany has said that some Leopard 2 main battle tanks will be ready for Ukraine by the end of March.

The head of the German defence company Rheinmetall has also said that it plans to send 20 to 25 Leopard 1 tanks to Ukraine this year.

Russian mobilized soldiers fire from BMD-4 amphibious infantry fighting vehicle during a training in Russia in undated footage. The footage was released by the Russian MoD on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2023. (Ministry of Defense of Russia/Newsflash)

Ihor Klymenko has become the new Ukrainian Minister of Interior Affairs and Vasily Malyuk has become the new head of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), the country’s main intelligence and security agency, after their appointments were approved by the Ukraine’s Parliament.

Ukraine’s top national security official, Oleksiy Danilov, the secretary of Ukraine’s national security and defence council, has said that he believes Kyiv will eventually be supplied with American F-16 fighter jets and that it was “only a matter of time”.

Danilov also suggested that Ukraine could strike Russia on its own territory, beyond occupied Ukraine.

The UK Ministry of Defence has said that Russia “lacks the munitions and manoeuvre units required for successful offensives”.

The UK MoD added: “Senior commanders likely make plans requiring undermanned, inexperienced units to achieve unrealistic objectives due to political and profession pressure.”

The Minister of Defence of Russia, Sergei Shoigu, has said that Western weaponry supplied to Kyiv is “dragging” NATO into the conflict, which could lead to an “unpredictable level of escalation”.